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Complications

Doctors consider some pneumococcal infections to be “invasive.” Invasive disease means that germs invade parts of the body that are normally free from germs.

Most pneumococcal infections are mild. However, some can be deadly or result in long-term problems, such as brain damage or hearing loss.

Meningitis is the most severe type of invasive pneumococcal disease. Of children younger than 5 years old who get pneumococcal meningitis, about 1 out of 15 dies of the infection. The chance of death from pneumococcal meningitis is higher among elderly patients. Others may have long-term problems, such as hearing loss or developmental delay.

Bacteremia is a type of invasive pneumococcal disease that infects the blood. About 1 out of 100 children younger than 5 years old with this bloodstream infection die of it. The chance of death from pneumococcal bacteremia is higher among elderly patients.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause mild to severe illness in people of all ages. Complications of pneumococcal pneumonia include

Infection of the space between membranes that surround the lungs and chest cavity (empyema)

Inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart (pericarditis)

Blockage of the airway that allows air into the lungs (endobronchial obstruction), with collapse within the lungs (atelectasis) and collection of pus (abscess) in the lungs

About 5 out of 100 people with non-invasive pneumococcal pneumonia will die from it, but that rate may be higher among elderly patients. Doctors consider pneumococcal pneumonia non-invasive if there’s not bacteremia or empyema occurring at the same time.

Sinus and ear infections are usually mild and are more common than the more severe forms of pneumococcal disease. However, some children develop repeated ear infections and may need ear tubes.